Inverted base

ABSTRACT

AN INVERTED BASE SUCH THAT WHEN APPLIED IN POSITION AT THE BASE OF A WALL AND AT FLOOR LEVEL WILL BE WHOLLY DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THE SURFACE OF THE WALL. THE INVERTED BASE IS FORMED OF A THIN, SELF-SUSTAINING, YET SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE METAL AND MAY BE OF ANY DESIRED REENTRANT CONFIGURATION, AND IS PROVIDED ALONG ITS UPPER AND LOWER SIDE PORTIONS WITH LIPS EACH CARRYING A ROW OF PROJECTING TEETH. THE LIPS ARE DESIGNED TO RESPECTIVELY ENGAGE THE WALL AND FLOOR WITH THE TEETH TO BE DRIVEN THEREINTO. THE WALL IS GENERALLY FORMED OF PANELS OF ANY SUITABLE MATERIAL SECURED TO STUDS. IN THE APPLICATION OF THE INVERTED BASE THE LOWER HORIZONTAL EDGE PORTION OF THE WALL PANEL IS BEVELED WITH THE TERMINAL EDGE SPACED A DISTANCE ABOVE THE FLOOR SURFACE THUS PROVIDING A REENTRANT SPACE TO RECEIVE THE INVERTED BASE. IF DESIRED,   SHOULD A GREATER REENTRANT DEPTH BE DESIRED A PORTION OF THE WALL STUDS OR BEAMS MAY BE CUT OUT TO ACCOMMODATE THE INVERTED BASE AT A GREATER REENTRANT DEPTH. THE REENTRANT FORMATION OF THE INVERTED BASE PERMITS A VARIETY OF USED THEREOF AS IN DOORS AND WINDOW FRAMES, ADJACENT STAIR TREADS SO TO HOUSE AN ELECTRIC LIGHT, AS A BASE OPENING HOUSING FLUORESCENT LIGHTS, AND AS A BASE OPENING RECEIVING CASINGS OF BASEBOARD HEATERS.

Feb. 16, 1971 W 1 3,562,981

INVERTED BASE Filed Feb. 12. 1968 3 Shoots-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E/6// W/LLF027 E. WILLFU RTH INVERTED BASE Feb. 16,1971

Filed Feb. 12. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 Z w; L W 5 E. WILLFURTH 3,562,981

Feb. 16, 1971 INVERTED BASE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 12. 1968 w W m%1,.W

United States Patent Office Patented Feb. 16, 1971 3,562,981 INVERTEDBASE Erich Willfurth, 31 W. Chestnut St., Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 FiledFeb. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 710,426 Int. Cl. E04f 19/04; E06b 1/00 U.S. Cl.52173 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An inverted base such that whenapplied in position at the base of a wall and at floor level will bewholly disposed inwardly of the surface of the wall. The inverted baseis formed of a thin, self-sustaining, yet sufficiently flexible metaland may be of any desired reentrant configuration, and is provided alongits upper and lower side portions with lips each carrying a row ofprojecting teeth. The lips are designed to respectively engage the walland floor with the teeth to be driven thereinto. The wall is generallyformed of panels of any suitable material secured to studs. In theapplication of the inverted base the lower horizontal edge portion ofthe wall panel is beveled with the terminal edge spaced a distance abovethe floor surface thus providing a reentrant space to receive theinverted base. If desired, should a greater reentrant depth be desired aportion of the wall studs or beams may be cut out to accommodate theinverted base at a greater reentrant depth. The reentrant formation ofthe inverted base permits a variety of uses thereof as in doors andwindow frames, adjacent stair treads so to house an electric light, as abase opening housing fluorescent lights, and as a base opening receivingcasings of baseboard heaters.

This invention relates to a metal and/or plastic invetted base.

The primary object of this invention is to provide in buildingconstruction in lieu of the present use of wood molding strips assembledand attached to the base of the wall and adjacent floor and whichprojects outwardly from the surface of the wall, an inverted base ofreentrant form that is placed within a space provided therefor at thebase of the wall so as to lie wholly inwardly of the wall surface, thewall accordingly having a dustfall edge that is spaced vertically fromthe floor.

Another object of this invention is to form the reentrant inverted baseof a thin, self-sustaining but flexible material provided along itslongitudinal edges with lip portions for seating engagement with thefloor surface and wall surface to which they are to be secured.

Yet another object of this invention is to form the reentrant invertedbase of a thin, self-sustaining but flexible metal with the lips thereofprovided each with a row of teeth or prongs to be driven into the floorand wall for attaching the inverted base in place.

A further object of this invention is to shape the reentrant invertedbase to accommodate therewithin a fluorescent light.

A still further object of this invention is to shape the reentrantinverted base to accommodate a baseboard heating structure.

Another object of this invention is to utilize the re entrant invertedbase as the outer side members of a door or window frame.

Yet another object of this invention is to utilize the reentrantinverted base as a casing for a light element to be placed within a walladjacent to selected treads of a staircase.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described within the scope of the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section showing one applicationof the reentrant inverted base.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternativeapplication with a modified form of inverted base.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view in section of a wall construction asaltered to receive the inverted base.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the inverted basestrips.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the inverted base taken on line 55 of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the inverted base utilized to form adoor frame.

FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of the connection construction ofthe door frame with the inverted base.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternateinverted base housing an electric light.

FIG. 9 is a similar sectional view showing a still further alternateinverted base construction employed with a linoleum floor.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are similar views showing the inverted base with aheating device fitted therein.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show an inverted base as applied to stair treads.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a staircase shown partly in crosssection, and shown incorporating the present inverted base invention.

FIG. 15 is a crosssectional view taken on line 1515 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing how the stair treadand riser are secured to the bottom boards.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the reentrant inverted base isformed of any suitable metal or plastic material of relatively thinthickness that is self-sustaining and flexible and in strips or lengthsfound desirable for sale and handling. The inverted base is preformed toprovide any desired cross-sectional shape, either rectangular ormultiple curved or a combination of both, as seen by the forms shown forexample, in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the inverted base shown in FIG. 1, the base 10 is formed of metal orplastic to provide a flat vertical back 12 curved forwardly at its lowerend to provide a curved floor engaging lip 13. At its upper end the back12 curves forwardly as at 14 to form a vertical wall engaging lip 15.Provided on the lower lip 13 along its edge are a row of teeth or prongs16 projecting downwardly and vertically. A similar row of teeth 17 isprovided along the free edge of vertical lip 15 and normal thereto. Inutilizing the reentrant inverted base 10, the wall 18 of plasterboard,Sheetrock, plywood or any other suitable building material has its lowerend portion preferably reduced in thickness as by being beveled as at 19with the terminal edge 20 thereof spaced the required distance from thesurface of floor 21 as determined by the height of the inverted base 10.The base 10 is then placed in position with its vertical back 12disposed adjacent to or against the wall studs 22 (only one being shown)the teeth 16 of lower lip 13 being driven into floor 21 which in thiscase extends inwardly beneath the wall 18 to studs 22. The teeth 17 onupper lip 15 are driven into the beveled portion 19 of the wall 18 asshown. So attached in position it is seen that the entire inverted base10 lies inwardly of the outer surface of wall 3 18. In some cases it maybe desirable to dispense with the row of teeth 16 on lower lip 13 and tonail the lip directly to floor 21.

The inverted base 18 may be formed without the teeth 16, 17 thereon andthe lips 13, 15 may be secured to the floor and wall by being nailedthereto. It is also contemplated that the inverted base 10 (minus theteeth) be secured by the use of a suitable adhesive. Should the invertedbase 10 be made of plastic material (without teeth) the same may eitherbe secured by nailing or the use of a suitable adhesive.

The inverted base may be made of thin tin of semirigid grades, softsteel, stainless steel (for use in kitchens, hospitals, etc.) in plasticand in more expensive makes such as bronze with embossed patterns.Cheaper grades of inverted base can be painted in the color of the wallsor as desired.

The metal inverted base 24 of FIG. 2 is similar to the inverted base 10of FIG. 1 except that its back 26 is partly vertical as at 27 and partlycurved forwardly as at 28, the vertical portion 27 being beneath curvedportion 28. The curved portion 28 projects forwardly beyond the verticalplane of teeth 16a on lower lip 13a thus establishing a greater depthinwardly from the surface 30 of wall 18 than that seen in theapplication of the molding 10. As with the inverted base 10, teeth 16aare driven into the floor 21 and teeth 17a on upper lip 15a are driveninto the bevel portion 19 of wall 18. In order to accommodate thegreater inward depth of the inverted base 24 which is seen to projectbeyond the inner surface of wall 18 it is necessary to cut out a portionof the studs 22 as at 30 to accommodate the same. In this case each stud22 so cut out is reinforced and strengthened by a metal back plate,channel or angle bar 32 secured to the stud by bolts 33, 34 as shown inFIG. 3.

The inverted base being of thin metal may be initially bent or forced toassume a variety of shapes. Thus, an inverted base 10 in the shape shownin FIGS. 1, 4 and may be given the shape shown by the inverted base 24of FIG. 2 by the simple expedient of offsetting the points of attachmentof teeth 16a and 17a.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate another use of the inverted base in forming adoor frame and the manner of joining the same to the inverted base ofthe wall. The door frame 38 is formed of an inner wood support member 40of a desired thickness and of a width less than the wall stud 22.Inverted bases such as of FIG. 1 or 24 of FIG. 2, are cut to provide theupright frame sides 44, 45 and top frame side 46, suitably mitered as at48 and welded or otherwise permanently secured together. The joined doorframe inverted base 44, 45, 46 is secured to wood support member 40, seeFIG. 7, and to the Walls 18 in the same manner as described above withreference to the attachment of the molding strips to the floor and wall.Thus the teeth 16 on lip 13 are driven into frame member 40 (which iscomparable to floor 21) and the teeth 17 on lip are driven into the wall18.

As seen in FIG. 6, the upright door frame sides 44, 45, each an invertedbase utilized therefore as described above and which have theconfiguration as shown in cross section, see 45 FIG. 7, have theirbottom ends mitered as at 50. Due to the door frame sides being of sheetmetal the bottom mitered ends form an entrance opening 51, see FIG. 7,between the same, the floor surface 21, the stud 22, and Wall panel 18.The end of the inverted base 10, see FIG. 6, adjacent the mitered bottomend of door frame side 45 is also mitered as at 52 and lies in the samemitered plane as the bottom mitered end 50 of the door side frame 45. Asthe door frame side 45 and the inverted base 10 are not of the sameconfiguration, the mitered ends thereof will obviously not mate, and inthe plane of the mitered opposed ends thereof there will be formed anopening X therebetween, see FIG. 7. This opening X will present not onlyan unfinished and unsightly appearance but will also permit the accessof dirt, vermin, etc., into the space behind the door uprights and thewall inverted base. In order to obviate this, the entrance opening 51 atthe mitered end of the door side frame 45 is closed by a closure plate53 having its upper edge, see FIG. 7 complemental to the inner shape ofthe door frame side 45, its bottom edge horizontal and seated on thefloor surface 21, and its rear edge complemental to the shape of theinverted base 10. The closure plate 53 is positioned to lie within theentrance opening 51 with its outer surface in the plane of the miteredend 50 of the door frame side 45, see FIG. 6, and serves to closeopening X. In order to show entrance opening 51, see FIG. 7, part of theclosure plate 53 is broken away. The mitered end 52 of the inverted base10 abuts the closure plate 53, see FIG. 6. The closure plate 53 issuitably secured to both the door frame side 45 and to the inverted base10.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a reentrant inverted base 55 shaped to providea vertical back 56, an upper inverted channel 57 having along its freeedge an upper lip 58 with teeth or prongs 59. The vertical back 56 atits lower end is provided with a forwardly directed lip 60 with teeth orprongs 61. The stud 22 is cut out sufficiently to receive the invertedbase 55. The dimensions of the channel 57 are such as to receive thereinfluorescent light units 64 which may be disposed in spaced relationentirely around the room or at selected locations therein.

FIG. 9 illustrates the Wall, stud and floor construction such as shownin FIG. 1, wherein the lower edge 20 of the beveled end of the wall 18is vertically spaced a desired distance above the fioor surface 21. Inlieu of utilizing a metal inverted base, the floor surface may becovered with a flexible floor covering such as linoleum that is broughtup along its end side portions to provide a base construction. Thus,there is suitably attached to the forward face of the studs 22a plywoodbacking 66- fitting snugly between floor surface 21 and wall edge 20. Atthe lower corner formed by the backing 66 and floor surface 21 there issecured a corner molding 68 presenting a concave surface that mergesinto the backing surface and floor surface. The flexible floor covering69 is normally cemented to the floor and correspondingly the end sideportion 70 thereof is brought up and adhesively secured in place to theconcave surface of corner molding 68 and the vertical surface of plywoodbacking 66 with its edge 71 directly abutting the wall edge 20. Thisconstruction presents an attractive and useful reentrant constructionthat is easy to clean, cannot be damaged and which will not accumulatedust and dirt due to the overhang of the surface of wall 18.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an inverted base 74 that is essentiallychannel shaped in cross section, having a vertical back 75 and top andbottom legs 76, 77, each leg terminating in a lip providing attachingteeth 78, 79, respectively. The inverted bases 74 are somewhat higherand deeper than the conventional size of inverted bases shown in FIGS. 1and 2 to accommodate the casing of a baseboard room heater (not shown)secured therein in any desired manner (not shown). Disposed between thewalls of the casing 80 and the corresponding opposed Walls of theinverted base 74 is a layer of insulating material 82, FIG. 10, which isasbestos and 82a, FIG. 11, which is a metal foil such as tin foil oraluminum foil. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the inverted base 74 ispositioned within a recess provided therefor in the stud or wall beam22a and the teeth 78, 79 on the upper and lower lips are respectivelydriven into the wall 18 and floor 21. It is to be noted that the frontclosure plate 84 of the casing 80 lies Wholly within the plane of theWall surface 18.

FIG. 12 illustrates the application of the metal inverted base to astaircase having at least on one side thereof a wall 18a similar to wall18, FIGS. 1 and 2. The wall 18:: is cut out to provide a rectangularopening 84 at a tread 86 with the inner vertical side 85 of the openingin the plane of the riser 88. Fitted into the opening is a section of ametal inverted base 90 that is concave facing outwardly and of a lengthcorresponding to the Width of the tread 86 as shown. At each of thevertical ends of the inverted base 90, there is provided a metal closureinsert 92 that is welded or brazed thereto. The inverted base 90 issecured in place by driving the teeth provided on the upper and lowerlips (as shown in FIGS. 4, respectively into the wall 18a and tread 86.It is to be noted that the closure ends 92, 92 close the gap at eachside of the opening 84 and that the inverted base 90 is entirelyrecessed within the wall opening 84. Suitably mounted preferable at thecenter of the inverted base 90 is a socket 94 for an electric light bulb95, the open end of 96 of the socket 94 projecting slightly beyond theconcave face of the inverted base. Conductors (not shown) connect thesocket 94 to a source of electric supply. The socket 94 preferablyshould receive a high intensity low voltage light bulb with the electriclight source, connections, switches, etc., corresponding to the use ofsuch. An inverted base 90 with electric light as described above may beplaced in the wall at every second or third tread as may be founddesirable. So placed, the recessed lights will light up the stairs thusmaking the same safer and thereby contribute toward the prevention ofaccidents. The above construction, shown in FIGS. 12, 13 is equallyapplicable in rooms, bathrooms, nurseries, hospitals, etc., wherever itis desirable to provide a recessed night light.

It is apparent from the above description that the inverted base can beinstalled with less time, effort and waste, and without the inhaling ofany dust. The exclusion of wood molding in baseboard construction makesthe installation of the instant inverted base cleaner and moreefficient. The reentrant inverted bases are thin, light, easy to handle,can be stacked or nested for transport and storage and requires lessroom.

In FIGS. 14 through 16 the present invention is shown applied to astaircase assembly 100. In the present construction, the staircase iscomprised of a plurality of steps 101, each of which constitutes ahorizontal tread 102 and a vertical riser 103. The steps are securedtogether by means of a pair of bottom boards 104 on the underside of thesteps. A prop block 105 of triangular configuration is secured by meansof nails 106 between the bottom board and riser, while a prop block 107of like configuration is secured by like nails between the bottom boardand tread, thereby making a more rigid and stronger assembly. It is tobe noted that the bottom boards 104 are employed in this invention inlieu of the usual side boards of conventional stairways because in thethe present invention, an inverted base 108 is used in the placeformerly occupied by the side boards that held the steps together.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the inverted base 108 includes lowerserrated tooth edge 109 that is secured into the side edge 110 of eachbottom board. Each inverted base 108 includes upper serrated tooth edge111 that is secured into the front side 112 of stairway wall 113. Thestairway walls 113 may be made of plaster molded on a suitablesupporting frame structure or it may be of any other construction, mostprobably of which would comprise Sheetrock. In such case for purpose ofstrengthening the lower edge 114 of the Sheetrock, a reenforcing beam115 is secured to the rear side of the Sheetrock, adjacent to the loweredge thereof.

The inverted base 108 includes arched portion 116 which bulges to formrecesses 117 below the walls 113 adjacent each stair step. An opening118 in each recess is provided for receiving an electric lamp bulbsocket for illuminating each step.

It will be noted that due to the arched shape of portion 116, that thesquare corner 119 of each tread must protrude into a cut out opening 120formed in the inverted base.

FIG. 14 readily indicated that the inverted base 108 of the stairwayenjoins the inverted base 121 on the upper floor or landing as well asthe inverted base 122 on the lower floor or landing.

It is to be noted that the inverted base is readily adaptable also forbuildings wherein the wall beams are of steel or other metals. Cutoutswould of course be reqired in the wall beams to clear the inverted base.Cutouts might also be required to clear the electric lights, heatingunits, or other decorative design, these cutouts being best made at thefactory before shipping the beams to the building site.

Thus there has been provided an inverted base which besides producing animproved appearance along a base of a wall, will also save time andlabor when painting the walls of a room or of a staircase. Painting canbe accomplished entirely with a paint roller and no brush will benecessary to paint into stair corners. Thus no cutting in with a smallbrush will be needed, in view of the recessed door, window frames andrecessed base along a floor or staircase.

Additionally, the covering of the floor by a protective tarpolin can beaccomplished more quickly and more protectively due to the tarpolinedges extending into the recessed areas of the inverted base. Thus thefloor covers do not merely lay on the floor near the walls, but aretucked below the lower ends thereof, thus eliminating all possibility ofpaint dripping upon the floor edges.

Additionally, more frequent painting can be eliminated, in view thatmost room painted surface deteriorates soonest along the protrudingbaseboard, and door and window frames. This structure being eliminated,such paint deterioration is no longer a problem.

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will beunderstood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in theforms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a floor and an upright wall comprising a wallpanel initially mounted on wall studs;

(a) said panel having its lower horizontal edge vertically spaced fromsaid floor to form a horizontal recess,

(b) said panel adjacent its lower horizontal edge being of a reducedthickness,

(c) a reentrant inverted base within said recess formed as an elongatedstrip of thin, self-sustaining, flexible material shaped to provide;

(1) a rear back portion,

(2) an upper wall engaging lip integral with and extending forwardly ofsaid back portion having a free terminal edge,

(3) a horizontal row of projecting teeth or prongs, at the free terminaledge of the upper lip securing the same to the reduced thickness loweredge portion of the wall panel by being driven thereinto,

(4) a lower floor engaging lip integral with and extending forwardly ofsaid back portion having a free terminal edge,

(5) a depending row of projecting teeth or prongs at the free terminaledge of the floor engaging lip for securing the same to the floor bybeing driven thereinto,

(d) said lips in their attached position lying wholly rearwardly of theouter surface of said wall.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said wall studs are cut out to increase the depth of said recess toaccommodate an inverted base of corresponding depth, and

(b) reenforcing members secured to said studs in the zone of said cutoutportions.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein:

(a) said inverted base at its upper end is of a channel shape with itsbottom forming the upper side of the upper cross stud secured centrallyto the opposed vertical wall studs and to the upper cross stud defininga door receiving opening,

(b) vertical side. and horizontal cross frame members formed ofsaidreentrant inverted base secured at inverted base, thin lipsrespectively to said intermediate side and (b) said channel portionlying above the horizontal cross members and to said wall to form a doorframe, edge of the wall panel and rearwardly thereof, and (c) saidvertical side and horizontal cross inverted (c) a casing structuresupported within said channel base frame members being mitered andsecured toportion. gether at their junctures forming the top of the door4. The combination of claim 1, wherein: frame, and (a) said paneladjacent its lower horizontal edge is of (d) the lower terminal ends ofthe vertical side inverted reduced thickness, base frame members and theadjacent ends of the (h) each said wall stud being cut out to provide ainverted base members located in said lower wall recess of greaterdepth, recess being mitered to lie in juxtaposed relation, and (c)reenforcing means secured to said studs in the (e) a closure plateinserted in the opening defined at zone of said cutout portions, themitered juncture of the end of the inverted base (d) said inverted baseincluding parallel upper and and a vertical side frame member of thedoor frame lower end walls normal to said rear back portion and andsecured to both. said lips extending from the outer edge of each saidend wall, References Cited (e? sait invgrted3 basg sllllpptortindgtherelwithin thte lgous; UNITED STATES PATENTS mg 0 a ase oar ea mgevice avmg 1 s ron side positioned rearwardly of said wall surface, andggg ig 5 g? 825 52 Tooth '(f) a layer of insulation disposed between theinterior 1 1 ay 165 55 surfaces of the reentrant inverted base and theop- 2867013 1/1959 Haag 52 287 posed adjacent walls of said housing.FOREIGN PATENTS 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein there is an I1,012,054 1965 Great Britain 52 288 opening in said wall defined byopposed vertical wall studs and an upper cross stud connected thereto,including:

(a) intermediate side and cross members of equal width and less than thewidth of the wall studs and JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl.X.R. 52-28, 211, 287

